Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul OUT for season with knee injury

Ross Gregory

Tim Krul is out for the rest of the season with the cruciate knee injury he suffered playing for Holland.

The Newcastle United goalkeeper limped out of Holland’s game against Kazakhstan on Saturday after damaging knee ligaments.

The 26-year-old has had a scan to find out the extent of the injury, and now looks set for an operation followed by months of rehabilitation.

A club statement said: “Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul has been ruled out for the rest of the 2015/16 Premier League season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

“Krul will now return to Tyneside for further treatment and rehabilitation and everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery.”

It is a huge blow for Newcastle, with No 2 Karl Darlow also out with an ankle injury.

The Dutch international had to be withdrawn after 81 minutes of the Netherlands’ European Championships qualification match at Kazakhstan’s Astana Arena on Saturday evening and scans have since determined the severity of the injury.

Krul tweeted: “Gutted to come off with an injury. Thanks for all the get well wishes. I will know more about the extent of the injury after scans.”

Holland were playing on an icy artificial surface in the Astana Arena, with Krul only featuring from the start after Dutch No 1 Jasper Cillessen was injured in the warm-up.

Dutch boss Danny Blind admitted it could have been caused by the surface.

He added: “Tim landed the wrong way. It could be that it was because of the artificial turf, but I dare not say.”

Newcastle No 2, Darlow, remains on the sidelines with an ankle injury and is unlikely to be fit for the next few weeks, meaning third-choice Rob Elliot will be in goal for the game against Norwich City on Sunday, and the Wear-Tyne derby at the Stadium of Light on October 25.

Elliot, who was on the Republic of Ireland bench last night, has just come back from injury himself.

He will be backed up by 18-year-old Freddie Woodman, who has been recalled from his loan spell at Crawley Town.